The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
rFri.ses BY Special ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1871
THE MISADVENTURES OF JOHN NICHOLSON
A Christmas Story in Three Parts.
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON,
AUTHoR OF TREASURE ISLAND" "DR. JEKYLL
Mr.. HYDE" ETC.
PART TI.-CHAPTER v.
,rrrr ,,c~-~H-c prTrrRN,

wonderful expansion of soul such as men ENJOY
on the completion of some long nouflsneo
schemes. He was at home again, lncognlto ana
rich; presently he could enter his fathers
house by means of the pass-key, whlcn ne mad
piously preserved through all his wandeTings;
he would throw down the borrowed money;
there would be a reconciliation, the details of
which he frequently arranged; ana ne sa" him.
SELF during the next month, made welcome IN
many stately houses at many nlgld dinner
parties, taking his share in the conversation
with the freedom of the and the traveller,
and 1avinp down the law finance with the
authority of the successful investor. But this
programme was not to be begun before evening
mot until inst before dinner. Indeed, at which
meaIthe re-assembled family were to sit roseate,
and the best wine, the modern fatted calf, should
how for the prodigals return.
Meanwhile he walked familiar streets, merry
"reminiscences crowding round him, sad ones
also both with the same surprising pathos. The
keen frosty air; the low, rosy, wintry sun; the
castle, hailing him like an old acquaintance;
names of friends door-plates; the sight of
friends whom he seemed to recognize, and whom
he eagerly avoided. in the streets; the pleasant
chant of the north country accent the dome of
st. Georges reminding him of his last peniten
tial moments in the lane, and of that King of
Glory whose name had echoed ever since in the
saddest corner of his memory; and the cutters
where he had learned to Slide and the shop where
he had bought his skates. and the stones OF
which he had trod, and the ratings in which he
had ratified his clachan as he went to school,
and all those thousand and one nameless par
ticulars. which the eye sees without noting.
which the memory keeps indeed yet without
moving and which, taken one with another,
build up for us the aspect Of the place that we
call home; all these besieged him, as he went,
with both delight and sadness.
His first visit was for Houston, who had
house Regents Terrace, kept for him in old
lays by aunt. The door opened Ito his
mrprisel upon the chain, and voice asked
aim from within what he wanted.
Il want Mr.. Houston-Mr. Alan Houston"
said he.
''And who are YET" said the voice.
This is most extraordinary" thought John;
and then aloud he told his name.D
''No young Mr.. Johnr cried the voice, with
a sudden increase Of Scotch accent, testi-
flying to friendler feeling
1.-THE very same" said John.
And the old butler removed his defenses re
marking only, II thocht We were that man."
But his master not there; he was staying. it
appeared at the house in Murrayield; and
tneugn the DutIeP would nave DeeQ gao enough
TO have taken his place and given all the news
OF the family, John, struck with little chill,
was eager to be gone. Only, the door
Il scarce cl I'd again, before he regretted that he
had not asked about that man,
He~sas to pay no more visits till he had seen
! his father and made all well at home; Alan had
been the only possible exception, and John had
not time to go as far Murray6eld But here
he was on Regents Terrace there was nothing
to prevent him going round the end of the hill,
and looking from without the Mackenzies
house. As he went, he reflected that Flora
must now he woman of near his own age, and
II was within the bounds of possibility that she
was married; but this dishonorable doubt he
damned down.
There the house, sure enough; but the
door of another color, and what was this
two door-platesl He drew nearer; the top
one bore, with dignifed simplicity, the words.
MIR Proudfoot;" the lower one was more ex-
plicit, and informed the passer-by that here was
likewise the abode of MIR. j. A. Dunlop Proud
foot. Advocate" The Proudfoots must be rich.
for no advocate could look to have much bust
ness in so remote quarter; and John hated
them for their wealth and for their name. and
for the sake of the house they desecrated with
their presence. He remembered Proudfoot he
HAD seen at school, not known; a little. whey
faced urchin, the despicable member of some
lower class. Could 1t be this abortion that had
clilned to be an advocate, and now lived in the
birthplace of Flora and the home of Johns
tendereSt memories? The chill that had first
sliced upon him when he heard of Houstons
absence deepened and struck inward. For a
moment he stood under the doors of that
estrdnged house. and looked east and west along
tire solitary pavement of the Royal Terrace
where not Il cat was stirring. the sense of soil
tude and desole -ion took him by the throat and
he wished himself in San Francisco
And then the figure he made, with his decent
portlness, his wliskers, the money il his purse
the excellent cigar that he now LIT, required to
his mind IN consoiatory comparison with that of
a certain maddened lad, who ON certain spring
Sunday ten years before. and in the hour of
ehurchtime silence. had stolen from that city by
the Glasgow road. In the face of these
changes, 1t We're impious to doubt for
tunes kindness. All would be we'll vet:
the Mackenzies would be found, Flora. younger
and lovelier and kinder than before Alan would
be found. and would have nicely discrim-
mated his behaviour as to have grown, on the
one hand. into valued friend Of Mr.. Nichol-
sons. and to have remained, upon the other of
that exact shade of joviality which John desired
in his companions And SO, once more John
fell to work discountng the delightful future:
his first appearance in the family pew: his first
visit TO his uncle Greig who thought himself SO
great a financier, and on whose purblind Edr-
burgh eyes John was to let in the dazzling dav-
light of the West; and the details IN general of
that unrivaled transformation scene in which
he to display to all Edin burgh portly and
successful gentlemanln the shoes of the derided
fugitive. ~
The time began TO draw near when his father
would have returned from the Office, and it
would be the prodigals cue to enter He strolled
westward by Albany street. facing the sunset
embers. pleased he knew mot whv to move in
that cold air and indigo twilight starred with
street lamps. But there was one more olsen
hantment waiting him by the way
At the corner of Pitt street he paused to light
a fresh cigar the vestra threw as he did So a
strong light upon his features, and man of
about his own age stopped at sight of it.
Il think your name must be Nicholson" said
the stranger.
1t was too late to avoid recognition; and be-
sides. as John was now actually on the way
home it hardly nattered, and he gave wav to
to the impulse of his nature.
Great Scott" he cried, 'Beatsonlr and shook
hands with warmth. 1t scarce seemed he was
repaid in kind
$50 you're home again7" said Beatson.
'Where have you been ali this long timer
'In the States said John california I've
made my pile though; and it suddenly struck
me it would be noble scheme to come home for
Christmas